Kacsóh, Pongrác

views updated

Kacsóh, Pongrác

Kacsóh, Pongrác, Hungarian composer; b. Budapest, Dec. 15, 1873; d. there, Dec. 16, 1923. He received training in piano and flute in Kolozsvár, and also in theory with Ödön von Farkas. After studies in physics, he settled in Budapest as a secondary school teacher before devoting himself to composing and writing on music. He attracted notice as a composer with his songs. Following the success of the musical play Csipkerózsa (Wild Rose; 1904), he produced the most acclaimed Hungarian national operetta in his János vitéz (Hero John; Nov. 18, 1904). He continued to compose for the theater but without ever equaling this success. In later years, he was active as a chorus master and teacher.

Works

dramatic: Music Theater (all 1st perf. in Budapest unless otherwise given): Csipkerózsa (Wild Rose; 1904); János vitéz (Hero John; Nov. 18, 1904); Rákóczi (Nov. 20, 1906); A harang (The Bell; Feb. 1, 1907; in collaboration with A. Buttykay); Mary Ann (Dec. 5, 1908); Dorottya (n.d.; Szeged, Jan. 9, 1929); also incidental music to F. Molnâr’s Liliom (1909) and Fehér felhö (1916). other: Choral music; songs; piano pieces.

Bibliography

L. Koch, K. P. János vitéze (Budapest, 1942).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire